That night, a great search swept through Chang’an.

All the Crown Prince’s associates were arrested, but the ordinary court officials who had been close to the Crown Prince in an everyday sense were far too numerous. Li Shimin specifically issued an order that only those who had participated in the coup were to be arrested. The most critical figure was Hou Junjie. By the time the night was done, more than a thousand people had been taken into custody, and Hou Junjie was also captured without resistance. However, when the Eastern Palace was searched, the sorcerer Wei Lingfu was nowhere to be found — leaving Li Shimin deeply furious.

The entire aftermath took several more days to settle. Li Shimin looked at the list of the Crown Prince’s associates and was overcome with a grief beyond all consolation. Li Yuanchang was his own younger brother; Du He was his son-in-law; Zhao Jie, Lord of Kaihua, was the son of his own elder sister; Li Anyuan was his personal palace guard general; Hou Junjie was his most trusted and renowned general of Great Tang, one of the twenty-four meritorious officials of the Lingyan Pavilion. The Crown Prince’s rebellion was like a blade carving out Li Shimin’s flesh — a pain that cut through his heart completely. For the first challenge he faced was deciding how to deal with these people.

In the court over these several days, opinions on how to handle the Crown Prince also varied wildly. Some advocated following the precedent set with Prince Qi Li You — having him executed. Others disagreed, saying it would damage familial bonds and violate human moral order. But the execution faction retorted sharply: the Crown Prince rebelled as a subject against his sovereign and as a son against his father — if he was not severely punished, where would the moral code and the national laws stand?

At this juncture, Notified Affairs Attendant Lai Ji broke the deadlock, saying, “If Your Majesty does not fail in your role as a compassionate father, and the Crown Prince is able to live out his remaining years in peace — that would be the good and right outcome.”

This touched the place of deep sorrow in Li Shimin’s heart, and his throat tightened with emotion. “Gentlemen,” he said, “We wish to make a personal request.”

Seeing the Emperor phrase it so formally, Fang Xuanling and Chang Sun Wuji immediately said, “Please speak, Your Majesty.”

“What if the battles at Xuanwu Gate and Chengtiannon Gate were simply erased?” Li Shimin said.

Everyone was somewhat puzzled and had not quite understood what Li Shimin meant. Even the habitually domineering Chang Sun Wuji dared not guess carelessly, and the great hall fell somewhat silent. Seeing this, Li Shimin had no choice but to make his meaning explicit. “Let the Crown Prince’s rebellion simply vanish from the history books. The battles at Xuanwu Gate and Chengtiannon Gate — they never happened. The Crown Prince was still in the stage of plotting when Gegan Chengji came forward to report him, and all his associates were arrested.”

Everyone exchanged looks. They had never expected the Emperor to raise such a request. This was a blatant demand that everyone collude with him to falsify history! Everyone turned to look at Fang Xuanling, Linghu Defen, Xu Jingzong, and the others — the great historical compilations of the Zhenguan reign had been led by these men.

“Gentlemen,” Li Shimin did not look at Fang Xuanling but swept his gaze across everyone with a plea, “We only wish to reduce the Crown Prince’s faults and give him a reason to go on living. Several months ago, We had to execute Youer — must We now execute the Crown Prince as well? We are now nearly fifty years of age. An ordinary family’s grief of white-haired parents sending a dark-haired child to the grave is already the greatest sorrow in human existence — how much more so when it is We who must kill Our own son with Our own hand? Even if you cannot share in the loneliness and isolation of a sovereign’s feelings, can you not share in the grief of a parent?”

Li Shimin spoke with both eyes grown moist, but everyone remained silent. In truth, everyone understood Li Shimin’s intent well enough. On one hand, he naturally wished to lighten the Crown Prince’s guilt — to spare the Crown Prince’s life and fulfill the bond between father and son. On the other hand, it was quite possibly also a consideration of his reputation for all eternity. After all, Li Shimin had devoted his entire life to crafting the image of an enlightened and benevolent sovereign — and now two sons in succession had raised armies in rebellion. In the history written by future ages, who would still believe in his benevolence and goodness?

Yet… yet to falsify history would bring infamy for a thousand generations! Especially for historians of great scholarship like Fang Xuanling and Linghu Defen, this was more unbearable than being flayed alive. Li Shimin also understood everyone’s resistance clearly, which is why he had dragged everyone into the water together in the great hall. If it was to be falsified, it was a decision they all made together — no one was to play the saint.

Everyone stayed silent, and Li Shimin also stayed silent, facing them down with silence. It was plain that unless everyone agreed, Li Shimin had no intention of giving up. In the end, Chang Sun Wuji could bear it no longer. “Your Majesty, the bond of father and son is the moral order of heaven and earth. Since Your Majesty wishes to fulfill this bond, we naturally have nothing to say. Is that not so, Minister Fang?”

Fang Xuanling sighed bitterly.

Chang Sun Wuji then fixed his gaze on Linghu Defen and Xu Jingzong — and both men also sighed quietly.

“Very well,” Chang Sun Wuji said, “since everyone is in agreement, let the matter be settled thus.”

Li Shimin nodded in grateful acknowledgment, said no more, and withdrew from court in silence.

In the Imperial Household Office, Li Chengqian sat alone in the darkness of the palace chamber. The great doors were tightly shut, and all around him came the footsteps of the Northern Palace guards and the clanging of armor. The palace chamber was empty and hollow. Li Chengqian knelt on the ground in silence, gazing in bewilderment at the bright moon outside the window — it seemed as though in an instant the moonlight had flowed across his entire life. Yet when the moonlight was spent, what trace would remain on this earth?

Chengqian suddenly laughed alone in his solitude. Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door; two palace guards opened the door, and Consort Yang entered carrying a food box. Consort Yang was the birth mother of Prince Cao Li Ming and was honored as a Noble Consort, much favored — but he had never been close to her himself, and so why had she come at this moment?

With puzzlement rising in his heart, Chengqian felt Consort Yang place the food box before him. “Crown Prince, you must be hungry. Have something to eat first.”

“Why have you come here?” Chengqian asked.

Consort Yang sighed. “Empress Zhangsun was my benefactress, and you are a child I watched grow up. Though there is nothing I can do about the affair between you and your father, I cannot bear to watch you suffer. All of this was made by the imperial kitchen to your favorite dishes — please eat some.”

Chengqian’s eyes slowly reddened. “I never knew you cared for me so.”

“People’s hearts each have their own inclinations. Though Qingque” — Prince Wei Li Tai’s childhood name — “is also born of Empress Zhangsun, the methods he has used against you over these years are known to everyone,” Consort Yang said, also weeping. “Such a fine Crown Prince, pushed to this state by sheer force — who among those who know the truth does not grieve?”

“Father Emperor favors Fourth Brother, and I cannot object to that,” Chengqian said despondently. “Having reflected on myself these past days, I also feel my temperament has been somewhat extreme.”

“Ever since your foot ailment, your temperament has been a bit unbalanced — but if Qingque had not used those vile methods to send people to lure you astray, I truly could not believe that the gentle and filially pious Crown Prince of former days would reach the point of killing his tutor, attacking his brother, and plotting to murder his father in rebellion!” Consort Yang was mild-tempered by nature, and even in anger she was unfailingly dignified.

“Fourth Brother sent people to lure me astray?” Chengqian was taken aback. “Who led me astray?”

“Do you not know?” Consort Yang was startled. “Ever since you failed, it has been circulating throughout the palace — they say Wei Lingfu was a spy sent to your side by Qingque!”

“What?” Chengqian was completely stunned. “But — but where does this come from?”

Consort Yang stamped her foot. “Crown Prince — truly, at a time like this you are still in the dark. How could you not have failed? Let me ask you: last year when you made the assassination attempt on Yu Zhining, was it not Wei Lingfu who incited you?”

Chengqian thought for a moment, then nodded. “That is indeed the case.”

“Then from last year, when you began persuading Prince Qi to rebel — was that not Wei Lingfu’s instigation as well?” Consort Yang asked.

Chengqian nodded heavily. “Yes, it was he.”

“And again, today — your planning of the coup — was it not Wei Lingfu who persuaded you?” Consort Yang asked.

This time Chengqian nodded without hesitation. “Yes. He not only helped me formulate the strategy, he also persuaded Hou Junjie to come over to my side… Was he truly Fourth Brother’s man?”

Consort Yang looked at this bewildered Crown Prince and truly had little left to say. Chengqian’s face slowly turned pale.

“How could it come to this — how could it come to this!” Chengqian cried out, losing his voice. “He and I are born of the same mother. From childhood we were close with deep affection — why would he go to such calculating lengths, pushing me step by step toward this utterly ruinous abyss?”

“In the shadow of imperial power, has there ever been brotherly love in any dynasty?” Consort Yang said darkly.

“Father Emperor has already stripped me of my Crown Prince position,” Chengqian said, wiping his tears. “Is he going to install Fourth Brother as Crown Prince?”

“There are thoughts in that direction,” Consort Yang said. “Yesterday Qingque entered the palace and pleaded with His Majesty to install him as Crown Prince, pledging that in his own later years, he would certainly kill off his descendants and pass the throne to Li Zhi.”

“Perverse human relations — sheer nonsense,” Chengqian scoffed.

“Indeed!” Consort Yang said. “No one would believe such words — yet His Majesty believes them.”

Chengqian was furious to his core. “I have fallen to this state today entirely because of this Li Tai! And he has been so vicious as this — even if I must die, I want to drag him down with me into hell!”

“It has not yet been decided how to deal with you. His Majesty has not yet reached a conclusion — you may not necessarily die,” Consort Yang said. “But if you want to bring Qingque down with you in defeat, that is not so difficult.”

Chengqian was taken aback, and hurried to bow respectfully. “How can it be done? Please instruct me, Noble Consort!”

Consort Yang said, “You need only ask His Majesty one question: can the position of Crown Prince truly be seized through schemes and treachery? That is certain to extinguish Qingque’s hope of seizing the succession.”

Chengqian had not yet quite grasped the implication, when suddenly from outside the door came the sound of the palace guards performing obeisance. “Greetings to His Majesty!”

“Who is in the hall?” Li Shimin’s voice sounded.

“The Noble Consort,” the guard answered.

“Mmm.” Li Shimin gave a noncommittal hum from his nose.

At that the hall doors opened and Li Shimin walked in. Consort Yang immediately rose to bow in greeting.

Li Shimin looked at the Crown Prince with a complex expression, then asked Consort Yang, “Why is this beloved consort here?”

Consort Yang replied with gentle warmth, “They are all family’s own children. Though this one has broken the law of the state, remembering the kindnesses of Elder Sister Zhangsun in former days, my heart cannot help but feel tender. So I had the imperial kitchen prepare some food, to spare the child this suffering.”

At the mention of Empress Zhangsun, Li Shimin felt an added wave of sorrow. He glanced at the food box on the ground and said gently, “It was thoughtful of this beloved consort. You may return to your palace now — We shall have a word with Chengqian.”

Consort Yang silently performed a curtsy and withdrew. The vast, empty palace chamber was left to the father and son, who regarded each other in silence for a moment, then both looked away.

“A month ago, it was in this Imperial Household Office that We bid farewell to Youer — and We did not expect to come again today to bid you farewell,” Li Shimin said, his voice dry, carrying an undertone of bleak, aged weariness.

“This son fears Father Emperor may bid farewell to even more sons in this place,” Chengqian said.

“Are you cursing Us?” Li Shimin was not furious this time; his expression held a deep, deep helplessness.

Chengqian shook his head. “This son is lamenting his own fate. Father Emperor — you seized the imperial seat through a palace coup, and so Fourth Brother followed suit in kind, pushing this son with brute force toward the territory of rebellion. And so this son fears that whichever imperial prince became Crown Prince would face the same ambitious rival.”

Li Shimin hated above all else to hear anyone mention the old affair of Xuanwu Gate, and was immediately irritated. “You yourself were not capable, and you blame Qingque?”

Chengqian was astonished. “Father Emperor — do you not yet know that this son’s strategist Wei Lingfu was Fourth Brother’s spy?”

“What?” Li Shimin froze.

A mocking expression crossed Chengqian’s face. He recounted how Wei Lingfu, acting under Li Tai’s orders, had incited him to assassinate Yu Zhining, stirred up Li You’s rebellion, and devised the coup plan. Li Shimin was struck utterly speechless.

“This son was defeated — I lacked the skill, and in this heartless imperial family there is nothing to complain about,” Chengqian said with mockery. “I hear Father Emperor intends to install Fourth Brother as Crown Prince — then let this son congratulate Fourth Brother. He truly is the son most like Father Emperor.”

Li Shimin’s face burned as if with fire, and he explained, “We have not yet decided to install Qingque as Crown Prince.”

“Then he will still be installed?” Chengqian gave a hollow laugh. “Father Emperor — is this to tell the sons and grandsons to come that the position of Crown Prince in Our Great Tang can be seized through scheming and treachery?”

In Li Shimin’s mind, it was as if lightning had suddenly cracked and thunder had pealed. Chengqian had never quite grasped the true meaning of these words — but Li Shimin understood in an instant, for this was the thing he feared most.

From the first year of Wude, Great Tang had been founded for twenty-five years. Though it had made the first steps toward a golden age, the thing that most troubled Li Shimin and his court was: how far could this dynasty go? At its peak, the Sui dynasty had been even more powerful than the present Great Tang, and yet had still perished after two reigns. Moreover, in the dynasties before Great Tang — from the Wei and Jin through the Zhou and Sui — through the preceding four hundred-some years, the lifespans of countless dynasties ranged from fifty or sixty years at the most, to twenty or thirty at the least. What Li Shimin and his court discussed every day was how to break free of this pattern and establish Great Tang’s long-lasting peace and order.

In truth, Li Shimin had no great confidence. For the original sin he bore — killing his brother and forcing his father from the throne at Xuanwu Gate — was far too similar to the fratricidal schemes and internal slaughter of those short-lived dynasties. Chengqian’s words struck him with a blow to the head, and he suddenly understood: under no circumstances could he allow the imperial princes to ascend to the throne by means of schemes and plots. Otherwise, future generations of Great Tang would have no peace.

“We have already given thought to this matter — go now in peace,” Li Shimin sighed.

“Indeed — what does it have to do with me now?” Chengqian gave a joyless smile. “Father Emperor has come today — and since it is to bid this son farewell, from this point forward the affairs of the mortal world have no more connection to me. I truly regret having come to this world for a single passage.”

“You still do not understand Us!” Li Shimin’s expression was complex as he gazed at him. “How could We bear to kill you? One Li You has already broken Our heart — must you also make Us bear the name of one who slays his own son? This morning at court, We have already decided to strip you of your status and reduce you to a commoner, to be exiled to Qiangzhou. We can only hope that you live out a peaceful and simple life in Qiangzhou — We can only hope that you and I are not reborn as father and son in the next life.”

Li Shimin’s footsteps were unsteady as he turned and left the palace chamber. The hall doors locked shut behind him with a reverberating boom — this was the last sight he would ever have of the son he loved and resented and could not let go.

The following day, Li Shimin issued an imperial edict: at the same time he was demoting Chengqian to commoner status and exiling him to Qiangzhou, Prince Wei Li Tai was placed under house arrest at the Directorate of Works. This move provoked an outpouring of protest from Li Tai’s faction. Li Shimin personally drafted the edict: Prince Wei Tai is Our beloved son, truly cherished by Us. We bestowed upon him honor and esteem beyond that of other princes, and gave him titles exceeding the standard — yet this led to his arrogance and overreach, and the belief that though Chengqian was the legitimate eldest son, he could be supplanted. The two competed to make alliances with officials and recruit dangerous associates, making it so that civil and military officials were each aligned with a side, and within the family, factions were formed. We adhere to impartiality and fairness, and so We depose both. This is not only to set an example for all under heaven, but also to serve as a warning to posterity. From this day forward, if a Crown Prince is morally unfit, and a princely vassal covets his position, both shall be cast aside. Let this be transmitted to descendants as an everlasting rule.

Afterward Li Tai was demoted in title to Prince of Donglai Commandery, removed from the capital, and ordered to take up his fief.

With Chengqian and Li Tai both dealt with, Li Shimin acted with decisive swiftness, executing Son-in-Law Commandant Du He, Lord of Kaihua Zhao Jie, and Li Anyuan, among others. As for Prince Han Li Yuanchang, Li Shimin had originally been unwilling to execute him — but the assembled ministers objected, and he had no choice but to have him executed in his own residence. Last came Hou Junjie. Li Shimin also hesitated on this one — he truly could not bear to execute this fierce general he so cherished. And then word came that Hou Junjie, in prison, was refusing to confess to treason.

Li Shimin thought of Hou Junjie and felt wave after wave of sorrow. He ordered an imperial procession to proceed to the Ministry of Justice prison to personally meet with Hou Junjie. He specifically commanded: summon Wang Xuance to accompany Us.

Over these past days Wang Xuance had become a man of great renown throughout Chang’an — first seizing Li You through his own efforts alone, and then through a brilliant stratagem inciting the rebel army to launch prematurely, sparing Li Shimin from a mortal threat. Both great merits were splendid accomplishments — it remained to be seen how the Emperor would reward him.

Wang Xuance rushed over at once. Li Shimin had already boarded his imperial litter, and specially decreed that Wang Xuance ride in it with him. Overwhelmed by this singular honor, Wang Xuance stepped into the litter and found that the Emperor appeared even more haggard than before — within just a few days he seemed to have aged more than ten years, even the hair at his temples having gone white.

“Your Majesty,” Wang Xuance said carefully, kneeling.

Li Shimin said nothing, and the litter rolled through the Chengtiannon Gate, grinding along the blue-stone road toward the Ministry of Justice. All the way there Li Shimin said nothing, gazing silently at what lay outside the carriage, while Wang Xuance did not dare speak either, his heart beating fast. At the prison, Li Shimin led Wang Xuance into the cell. Hou Junjie was chained to the wall, disheveled and unwashed. Li Shimin had him released. Hou Junjie had not expected the Emperor to come in person to visit him, and tears streamed down his face as he knelt and kowtowed.

Li Shimin looked at him with deep feeling. “I hear you have refused to confess. We do not want those petty scribes humiliating Our meritorious general, and so We have come in person. If you have anything to say, you may say it to Us.”

Hou Junjie wept. “This criminal has nothing to say. I had hoped to serve as Your Majesty’s instrument, to march and do battle in all directions — only to my regret that midway through I failed Your Majesty’s trust. This official’s death would not be punishment enough.”

“You have four great merits.” Li Shimin also felt immeasurable sorrow. “From the time you enlisted, you followed Us on campaigns north and south, rendering distinguished service repeatedly. In the ninth year of the Wude reign, it was you and Jingde who urged Us to launch the Xuanwu Gate mutiny — this merit We will never forget for all eternity. In the fourth year of Zhenguan, you rode two thousand li in a rapid march and destroyed the Tuyuhun — a merit of destroying a kingdom. In the fourteenth year of Zhenguan, you destroyed the Kingdom of Gaochang — yet another merit of destroying a kingdom. These four merits We carry in grateful remembrance forever, and so had your portrait placed in the Lingyan Pavilion, hoping Our descendants would also remember what you gave to Great Tang, and protect your descendants with prosperity for a long time to come. We — and this Great Tang — could not give you greater glory no matter who holds the throne, and yet why did you rebel?”

Hou Junjie wept. “It was this official’s own failings. When I destroyed Gaochang, I plundered the treasures of the Gaochang royal palace and also took some Gaochang women — upon returning to the capital, I was attacked by the censors and locked up in prison. Though you, Your Majesty, were merciful and released me after a few days, the resentment in my heart could never fully settle. Then I was deluded by the sorcerer Wei Lingfu, who said I had the physiognomy of one destined to be a prince — and I believed his nonsense.”

Li Shimin sighed. “In former years, Qin Shubao followed Us in charging headlong through battle, through more than two hundred engagements great and small, losing blood by the bucketful, which led to his lying bedridden for years afterward. We have often felt deep regret for him. But Junjie — at this moment We actually wish that you too had been like Shubao, able to live out your peaceful later years, so that you and I as sovereign and minister could have kept each other company for a lifetime!”

Hou Junjie could only sob, unable to say another word.

Li Shimin also reddened around the eyes. “Today We said in court: in former times the state was not yet at peace, and Junjie shed his blood for the nation — We truly cannot bring Ourself to punish him. We wished to beg all the assembled gentlemen to spare his life — and the gentlemen said: Junjie’s crime is one that heaven and earth cannot abide; We ask that he be executed to make the law clear.”

Hou Junjie wept. “This criminal does not dare beg Your Majesty to show mercy beyond the law — I only ask for death.”

“Junjie — this is Our eternal farewell to you,” Li Shimin said, unable to hold back his weeping. “From now on, if We think of you, We can only go to the Lingyan Pavilion and look upon your portrait.”

Hou Junjie’s weeping did not stop. “This official’s death is not worth grieving over. If Your Majesty can remember even a portion of this official’s merits, I beg Your Majesty to spare me one son, so that my line does not die out.”

“Granted.” Li Shimin said no more, and slowly turned to leave.

Wang Xuance had not spoken a single word from beginning to end, and quietly followed him out.

On the return litter, Li Shimin’s eyes were still red, but he was no longer silent. He reclined on the soft couch and fixed his gaze on Wang Xuance. “Xuance, in this upheaval, it was thanks to your quick-wittedness that We did not step into the Changsheng Hall, and escaped with Our life by good fortune. The traitors We will punish; the meritorious officials We will reward. But We are quite curious: on that day when you incited the Guard Commands to attack the Chengtiannon Gate, in everyone’s eyes you were a rebel — if no one had vouched for you, how would you have cleared your name?”

“Is there not Ma Zhou?” Wang Xuance said with a smile. “This official is not afraid of being wrongly accused.”

“And if Ma Zhou had died in the fighting?” Li Shimin pressed.

“Impossible!” Wang Xuance shook his head. “This official’s Bureau of Investigation agents were protecting him from all sides.”

“Were you already at that point thinking ahead to having Ma Zhou testify on your behalf?” Li Shimin asked.

Wang Xuance felt a jolt in his heart. “Ah — this official had not actually thought of it in those terms. Draftsman Ma is a scholar, and I feared he might be harmed. At the time the situation was in chaos, and this official did not even know whether the Crown Prince’s rebellion could be suppressed. If the Crown Prince’s rebel faction had succeeded, this official would certainly have died without a burial place — how could I have thought that far ahead?”

“The world says you are audaciously bold — and yet We know that each of your risks is calculated before you move,” Li Shimin’s gaze rested on him with deep, still eyes. “Let us suppose: had the Crown Prince succeeded this time, and had We been murdered by this rebellious son, would you truly have been executed by the Crown Prince?”

Wang Xuance was greatly alarmed and prostrated himself. “This official does not comprehend the meaning within Your Majesty’s words!”

“Ma Zhou was under your control — after the Crown Prince won, you had only to kill Ma Zhou, and in an instant you would have been the first great meritorious hero of the Crown Prince’s faction!” Li Shimin’s eyes were fixed on him. “Thousands of people inside and outside the court would testify that it was you, Wang Xuance, who rushed east and west inciting the Guard Commands to attack the Chengtiannon Gate. Would the Crown Prince have denied this merit?”

Wang Xuance was soaked in cold sweat. “Yet this official previously had no connection whatsoever with the Crown Prince — the Crown Prince would naturally have known I was acting under false pretense.”

“The Crown Prince seizes the throne and urgently needs to win over hearts — would he deny it?” Li Shimin said coldly. “In fact, whichever side won or lost in this coup, you Wang Xuance would be the great winner!”

“Your Majesty has wrongly judged this official — this official harbors absolutely no such thoughts,” Wang Xuance kowtowed repeatedly.

“Rise,” Li Shimin helped him up, looked him up and down. “Today We brought you to the prison also to let you see Our attitude toward our meritorious veterans of great service. Even a treacherous minister We can pardon — how much more, a momentary lapse of judgment?”

“Yet this official truly had no two-facedness, no political opportunism,” Wang Xuance said with grievance.

“If you did, We forgive you. If you did not, consider it a warning from Us.” Li Shimin’s face softened into something of a smile. “We have always admired your audacious boldness — but you must always remember: this ‘heaven’ that must not be touched is the vast and boundless heaven beyond Great Tang’s borders, and not this small patch of heaven over Chang’an!”

“This official will remember it,” Wang Xuance said.

“You have the merit of seizing Li You, and the merit of suppressing the Crown Prince’s rebel faction — We have both of these in mind,” Li Shimin said. “Your present rank is Upper Fifth Rank Lower Grade, which may be promoted by several grades. However, the day Wei Zheng set down the rules, he specified that the rank of the Bureau of Investigation’s chief agent cannot exceed Fifth Rank. Are you willing to relinquish the position of Bureau of Investigation agent?”

Wang Xuance thought for a moment. After the admonishment he had just received, a wariness rose in his heart, and he immediately said, “This official still finds the position of Bureau of Investigation chief agent more freewheeling.”

“As you wish,” Li Shimin said. “You may shed the title of Senior Aide and go to the Court of State Ceremonial as a Junior Commissioner, responsible specifically for diplomatic affairs with various kingdoms — which is well suited to distributing the Bureau of Investigation’s agents throughout those kingdoms.”

Court of State Ceremonial Junior Commissioner was Upper Fifth Rank, so in one stroke Wang Xuance had advanced three grades. Wang Xuance kowtowed in gratitude — but in his heart he understood that the Emperor bore him a deep and serious wariness.

“Capture Wei Lingfu for Us!” Finally, Li Shimin said through gritted teeth. “Hah — three princes slain outside the gates, and the Tang house sees its cycle of retribution! It is this man who has doomed three of Our sons. We want to personally interrogate him and see exactly what his origins are!”

Wang Xuance dared not be negligent, and immediately arranged for Bureau of Investigation agents to investigate and search for Wei Lingfu. Wei Lingfu had been able to seek out Prince Wei and the Crown Prince by presenting himself as a sorcerer — he was a well-known figure in Chang’an. One would say finding him should not be difficult. Yet things became strange: no matter how carefully the Bureau of Investigation agents searched, the information they found extended only to Wei Lingfu’s activities after he had entered Chang’an one year ago — as if before a year ago, this person had never existed in the world!

Wang Xuance was immediately filled with unease, and the matter grew increasingly grave. In the early Tang era, the household registration system was quite strict. Ordinary residents who left their home area would be issued travel passes by the authorities, with verification required upon reaching each city. Daoists especially — the Daoist registry, like the Buddhist registry, was managed under even stricter rules. And yet for a man of such notoriety, the Bureau of Investigation had exhausted every effort only to find no trace of his origins — this could not help but fill Wang Xuance with dread.

Who had erased his identity?

Wang Xuance fixed his gaze on the noble families of distinguished merit, questioning dozens of nobles who had deep ties with Prince Wei Li Tai, and finally learned that the man had been introduced to Prince Wei by the Minister of Works, Du Chuke. Du Chuke was Du Ruhui’s younger brother and Du He the son-in-law’s uncle, and had long been close to Prince Wei. Most of the officials in Prince Wei’s faction had been recruited by Du Chuke. A few days earlier when Prince Wei was demoted, Du Chuke had also been arrested. Investigation had since established he had not participated in the coup, and in consideration of Du Ruhui’s reputation, Li Shimin spared his life, dismissing him from his post and sending him home.

Du Chuke’s residence was, like Yu Zhining’s, located in the Chongren Ward where high officials were clustered. Wang Xuance led the Bureau of Investigation agents in hiding in Chongren Ward before the curfew began, and confirmed that Du Chuke was in his residence. When the Hour of the Dog arrived, they used the old method — forming a human ladder to scale the wall, heading straight for Du Chuke’s bedchamber.

The group moved stealthily, evading the household servants and guard dogs, and carefully approached the back quarters — only to discover with astonishment that Du Chuke’s room was blazing with lamplight, the door wide open. Wang Xuance stood in the corridor, not quite sure what to make of it. At this point Du Chuke’s voice came from within the room. “Is the one who has come Senior Aide Wang? Please come in.”

Wang Xuance signaled to those on either side, and the Bureau of Investigation agents immediately understood — they dispersed and took up guard at every key point, with people even stationed on the rooftop. Only then did Wang Xuance rest his hand on his sword hilt, remove his boots at the doorway, and step into the room.

Du Chuke was fifty-six years old this year, his hair and beard showing some white. After his demotion, he looked even more haggard, with a deathly pallor about his features. The room was also extremely sparse, with only several low couches spread before a screen. Du Chuke sat cross-legged on a couch in a daze. Wang Xuance sat upright, hand on sword hilt.

“Lord Du — why have you not yet retired for the night at this hour?” Wang Xuance asked.

“Had I retired, would you not simply wake me?” Du Chuke said mildly. For all that he was a fallen official, his bearing was not diminished.

“My apologies,” Wang Xuance lowered his head. “There is only one matter that compelled me to come to your door. With many eyes and ears about during the day, I waited for the dead of night before coming.”

“You have come to ask about Wei Lingfu’s whereabouts, have you not?” Du Chuke said.

A surge of deep unease rose in Wang Xuance’s heart. “You knew my reason for coming?”

Du Chuke nodded. “Tonight, Wei Lingfu has only just been here.”

Wang Xuance rose sharply to his feet. “Where is he?”

Du Chuke pointed at the couch beneath Wang Xuance’s feet. Wang Xuance looked down — nothing unusual. He could not help feeling puzzled. Du Chuke explained: “Just now, he was sitting on this couch — and before you arrived, he dissolved into smoke and dispersed.”

“Nonsense!” Wang Xuance was furious. “Lord Du — I respect the Du family as a noble family of great merit to Great Tang, and yet you treat me as though I were a three-year-old child?”

Du Chuke shook his head. “At the point this old man has reached, what would be the purpose of mystification? Look for yourself.” He extended a hand and pointed at the screen. “That Wei Lingfu has just this moment written a poem on this screen.”

Wang Xuance turned his head to look — and indeed, on the landscape screen, in a bold, flowing hand, was written a poem:

The Sui pearl used to shoot sparrows — licking the Qin sovereign’s wounds to earn a carriage. In the morning, still a guest who rules alone; by evening, the remnants left by foxes and birds. Three princes slain outside the gate — the Tang house sees its cycle of retribution. Should you wish to see the Lingfu come, tomorrow — at the Xuanwu Gate.

Wang Xuance’s literary abilities were not high, but he could see well enough that this poem was crude and clumsy, its rhymes, meter, and tonal patterns virtually all thrown into chaos. And yet the third line of the poem still struck him with a force beyond all expression. Three princes slain outside the gate — the Tang house sees its cycle of retribution. These words were plainly what Li Shimin had heard in a dream — how could they have been known by a sorcerer and inscribed on a screen?

“What… what does this mean?” Cold sweat seeped from Wang Xuance’s forehead. He jumped up and touched the writing — the ink had not yet dried.

“The first four lines are drawn from the Baopuzi,” Du Chuke said. “The meaning is: using the Sui Marquis’ pearl to shoot sparrows; licking the Qin sovereign’s sores to earn a carriage. In the morning still a lone and ruling guest; by evening reduced to the scraps left by wild foxes and birds. As for what follows — thinking it over, it is indeed apt: the three princes killing one another — is that not precisely the Xuanwu Gate incident repeated?”

“And the last two lines?” Wang Xuance asked.

Du Chuke drew a deep breath, seemingly carrying a trace of fear. “If you wish to see Wei Lingfu — wait for him tomorrow at the Xuanwu Gate.”

“Preposterous!” Wang Xuance gave a cold laugh. “The Xuanwu Gate lies deep in the forbidden palace — a location of the utmost importance. How could he appear there tomorrow?”

“This is precisely the reason Wei Lingfu came looking for me tonight,” Du Chuke said with a wry smile. “He told me that half an hour from now you would come looking for me. And he had me convey this — that tomorrow he intends to go to the Xuanwu Gate to surrender himself, and then he dissolved into smoke and vanished.”

The Hour of the Hare, the Sweet Dew Hall.

Outside the window, the darkness of night still held. The sound of the opening drum was echoing far away along the great Vermilion Bird Avenue, its booming filling Chang’an. In Li Shimin’s heart, an equally thunderous booming was erupting. Wang Xuance had the entire screen carried into the Sweet Dew Hall. Li Shimin stared at the lines of the poem, his face drained of color.

He felt it even more acutely than Wang Xuance. Three princes slain outside the gate — the Tang house sees its cycle of retribution. These words had been heard only in a dream — how had a sorcerer come to know them?

“We told only you!” Li Shimin said coldly.

Wang Xuance looked up openly and said, “If this official carried guilt in his heart, he would never have dared carry this screen into the palace!”

Li Shimin was silent for a long while, then slowly nodded — accepting this as explanation enough. “How is this to be explained?”

“When that Wei Lingfu appears, all will be resolved,” Wang Xuance said.

“Pass Our decree — have the Northern Palace guards lay in ambush at the Xuanwu Gate, the Chongyuan Gate, the Anli Gate, and the lane of the inner passage.” This was to surround the Xuanwu Gate on all sides. Li Shimin thought for a moment. “If that Wei Lingfu comes from outside the palace, do not obstruct him! We want to see whether he dares come to surrender!”

The Imperial Household Supervisor hurried off to convey the order. Li Shimin then called him back. “Also, go to the residence of the Duke of E Commandery, and summon Yuchi Jingde into the palace.”

Wang Xuance found this somewhat odd. Yuchi Jingde was already fifty-seven, and two months earlier had requested retirement and rest in his old age. Li Shimin had been reluctant, and had rejected the request, but had allowed him to attend court only once every five days. It was unclear why Li Shimin was thinking of this old comrade at this moment.

Before long, Yuchi Jingde arrived in full armor, carrying his steel mace, with two palace guards shouldering his long lance, to present himself at the Sweet Dew Hall.

Li Shimin gripped his hands with deep feeling. “Jingde — can you still fight?”

Yuchi Jingde laughed with full spirit. “This official has not yet grown old! My only regret is that there is no Dou Jiande or Liu Heita in the world any longer to face!”

Li Shimin roared with laughter. “Good — accompany Us to the top of the Xuanwu Gate. On that day you and I established our imperial power and dominance right here — today I want to see exactly what sort of clown dares to posture beneath this gate!”

Li Shimin, Yuchi Jingde, and Wang Xuance, surrounded by the Hundred Riders, climbed to the top of the Xuanwu Gate. The Northern Palace guards were already fully in position and concealed, faint flashes of blades visible on all sides. Li Shimin stood on the city wall of the Xuanwu Gate, filled with boundless feeling. Sixteen years before, it was right here that he had staked everything on a single throw, launched the mutiny, and in ascending to the pinnacle of his imperial power, had also been driven into a lifelong nightmare.

“We have never regretted!” Li Shimin murmured. “If time could be rewound, We would make the same choice!”

At this point the sun slowly rose, the imperial palace blazing with magnificence. Li Shimin had a sundial set up nearby and waited in silence. He did not know when Wei Lingfu would appear, but he was quite confident the man would not keep him waiting long. If this person had come in connection with the Xuanwu Gate incident of sixteen years past, it was a torment both for the other man and for himself.

Indeed — when the third quarter of the Hour of the Snake arrived, outside the Northern Gate of the Eastern Palace — the Yuande Gate — a sorcerer in a plain cloth robe suddenly appeared. This man had lean and spare features, three wisps of long beard, hair gathered at the top with a wooden hairpin securing it. Wide robe and long sleeves, his bearing at ease. The Northern Palace guards had long since encircled the area so thoroughly that not even wind or rain could pass through — and yet no one knew how this man had appeared. More than a thousand armored soldiers mobilized in urgent response, following the inner passage along the palace city wall, surrounding the man on all sides. Long spears bristled like a forest, great shields stood like walls, and on the walls on either side, archers had arrows nocked and bows drawn — at a single command, ten thousand arrows would fly.

Li Shimin stood on the tower in the distance watching, and commanded: “Let him pass.”

The two flanking formations parted, and Wei Lingfu, with a faint smile on his face, walked with unhurried ease through the midst of ten thousand troops — as if strolling through an empty courtyard. Following the inner passage westward, through the Anli Gate, he slowly made his way toward the Xuanwu Gate. The distance between them was under two li, and by the time Wei Lingfu reached the base of the Xuanwu Gate tower, the Northern Palace guards had crowded densely around him.

Wei Lingfu raised his head and met Li Shimin’s gaze from the city wall. “That day, the one standing guard at this tower was Right Guard Lieutenant Commander Chang He, was it not?”

Li Shimin did not answer, silently watching him.

Wei Lingfu smiled slightly, walked into the gate tunnel of the Xuanwu Gate, his voice drifting out from within: “The path I am walking now is the same path Jiancheng and Yuanji once walked. They came from the Eastern Palace to the Xuanwu Gate, and seeing Chang He at the gate, they must certainly have felt reassured. Your Majesty — did they greet Chang He? You must know, for on that day you were in ambush between the South Sea Pond and the Linhu Hall, and perhaps you heard the conversation between them!”

Wei Lingfu walked out of the Xuanwu Gate, passed through the Chongyuan Gate, and continued westward — taking no notice whatsoever of Li Shimin on the tower above. Li Shimin and Yuchi Jingde exchanged a glance, and both at once thought of a terrifying thing. Jingde said in a low voice, “Today this man must not be allowed to live!”

Wang Xuance was puzzled — he thought to himself, “The Xuanwu Gate incident is already known to the world. Is there still need to silence him over it?”

Li Shimin and Jingde hurried down from the Xuanwu Gate, with Wang Xuance and the surrounding Northern Palace guards following. In the distance, they could see Wei Lingfu walking in the midst of ten thousand troops toward the Linhu Hall. Looking westward from the Linhu Hall, the South Sea Pond’s waves were vaguely visible, with a continuous stretch of trees and pavilions in between.

“Your Majesty,” Wei Lingfu turned and looked up at Li Shimin with a great laugh, “on that day, you and Jingde were in ambush in those trees and pavilions, were you not? Jiancheng and Yuanji were going to the South Sea Pond to see the Great Progenitor Emperor, and when they reached this spot and discovered there was an ambush, Jiancheng turned his horse to withdraw. You realized you had been discovered, and immediately came out and called out to Jiancheng. Your Majesty — what did you call out at the time?”

Li Shimin by now already understood what he intended to do, and replied with an iron-dark face and silence.

Wei Lingfu shook his head. “If you won’t say it, that is all right. What we know is that you immediately fired an arrow at Jiancheng. Your archery has always been exceptional — this arrow was your finest work: a single arrow through the throat, and Jiancheng fell dead from his horse. After this, the two sides’ personal guards broke into melee fighting, and Yuanji was also hit by an arrow and fell from his horse. You then spurred your horse toward Yuanji, but unexpectedly your horse was caught on a tree branch, and you also fell. Yuanji then struggled to his feet, seized your bow, and attempted to strangle you with the bowstring. At that point Jingde arrived, and Yuanji released you and fled. Jingde pursued to kill. Jingde — my account thus far has no errors or omissions, does it?”

Yuchi Jingde gave a grunt of proud non-response.

“Yuanji fled eastward and reached the grove outside the Wude Hall, where Jingde shot him dead with an arrow. Afterward Jingde drew his blade and severed Yuanji’s head.” Wei Lingfu turned his face toward the direction of the Wude Hall, eyes closed in deep thought — as if he could see the bloody scene of that day. “At that time, Xue Wanche was leading the Eastern Palace and Prince Qi’s household forces in a fierce assault on the Xuanwu Gate, and it was on the verge of being lost. Jingde then held up the heads of Jiancheng and Yuanji to show to Xue Wanche and the others. The Eastern Palace forces, knowing there was no more point in fighting, immediately scattered and fled.”

Jingde bellowed, “You sorcerer — these events are known to all in the world! What is the purpose of your mystification?”

“This sorcerer only wishes to ask Your Majesty a few questions!” Wei Lingfu laughed loudly. “According to the national history you have compiled and promulgated: the Great Progenitor Emperor at that time was boating on the South Sea Pond. The Linhu Hall is but a stone’s throw from the South Sea Pond — and yet your fighting with Jiancheng’s personal guards was so fierce, and the Great Progenitor Emperor did not once send anyone to check? When the Great Progenitor Emperor traveled, his three guard units and five ceremonial divisions totaled one hundred eighty men, with forty-eight personal blade attendants. You led more than seventy men in ambush against Jiancheng and Yuanji — and yet the Great Progenitor Emperor showed no reaction? After you killed Jiancheng and Yuanji, Jingde donned armor and gripped his lance, and carrying two freshly bloodied heads, burst in before the Great Progenitor Emperor to force his hand — and yet those two hundred-some palace guards simply let him come and go? Your Majesty — I, this sorcerer, wish to ask you plainly: was the Great Progenitor Emperor truly boating on the South Sea Pond that day? He was plainly seized and imprisoned by you on that boat beforehand!”

This single statement touched the thing that most terrified Li Shimin in his heart. To have merely competed with Jiancheng for the Crown Prince position, killing Jiancheng and Yuanji — this he could still paper over with fine words. But if it was now proven that he had controlled and imprisoned Li Yuan before the Xuanwu Gate incident, the matter would be on an entirely different order. He had always proclaimed that the Xuanwu Gate coup had been an act of forced self-defense after suffering attacks from Jiancheng and Yuanji — and if that was true, this claim would fall to pieces. Moreover, he would bear the name of one who had imprisoned his own father — utterly destroying the image of filial piety he had so painstakingly constructed.

“Preposterous!” Li Shimin said in fury. “On that day, the Great Progenitor Emperor was clearly boating — only the sound of music was too clamorous to hear anything. You are a man from outside the palace — what would you know?”

Wei Lingfu gave a cold smile. “Since I am a man from outside the palace, let the national history you yourself promulgated throughout the realm speak to put your heart at ease.” He drew from his sleeve two scroll volumes — they were two volumes from the Wude Veritable Records and the Zhenguan Veritable Records — and held them up high in his hands. “Over these years, your falsification of the Wude Veritable Records and Zhenguan Veritable Records has cost you considerable effort. First, you established yourself as the heir the Great Progenitor Emperor had long since had in mind. For instance, before the founding campaign, you have the Great Progenitor Emperor pledge to you: ‘If this succeeds, the world will have been brought about by you — you shall then be Crown Prince.’ And you even declined the offer. Rubbish — the campaign had not yet even begun — how could the world already have been brought about by you? This is evidently an attempt to establish the legitimacy of your succession from the very source. Furthermore, you vilified Jiancheng and Yuanji. The national history says: ‘Jiancheng was by nature easygoing and lax, given to wine, women, and pleasure hunts; Prince Qi Yuanji had many faults and failings, and both were without favor from the Great Progenitor Emperor. Shimin’s reputation and accomplishments grew daily, and the Great Progenitor Emperor often had thoughts of replacing Jiancheng with him. Jiancheng, privately ill at ease, then conspired with Yuanji to bring about Shimin’s downfall.’ Heh heh — what a splendid victim!”

Li Shimin’s face was iron-dark. Wei Lingfu continued. “Not only that — you also acted against human moral order by erasing the Great Progenitor Emperor’s contributions, portraying the Great Progenitor Emperor as irresolute and timid. The records say: in the thirteenth year of the Daye reign, you persuaded the Great Progenitor Emperor to raise an army, and the Great Progenitor Emperor was so frightened his soul nearly fled, saying: ‘How dare you speak such words — I shall have you seized and reported to the county authorities!’ Ha ha — truly laughable beyond measure: the Great Progenitor Emperor was going to have you arrested and handed over to the magistrate! Finally, you fabricated at length the ways Jiancheng and Yuanji used schemes to harm you, making the Xuanwu Gate incident into an act of self-defense. Look what is written here: ‘Jiancheng secretly summoned Shimin at night, and gave him wine laced with poison. Shimin suffered a violent pain in the chest and vomited several sheng of blood.’ Heh heh — a true dragon and son of heaven indeed — even poisoned wine could not kill you. And look at this one: ‘Yuanji secretly memorialized to the Great Progenitor Emperor to have you killed, saying that after you pacified Luoyang, you refused to return to the capital and were distributing coins and silks to build private loyalties — clearly with the intention of rebellion, and that you should be killed without delay!’ Your Majesty — the reason Yuanji gave the Great Progenitor Emperor for killing you: do you not find it absurd yourself?”

“Who exactly are you?” Li Shimin roared. His mind was reeling, and gazing at the all-encompassing daylight, he felt as though he were standing utterly naked in the open expanse of heaven and earth.

“I am the arbiter of good and evil in this world!” Wei Lingfu said with contempt, and flung the scroll volumes to the ground.

“Arbiter of good and evil?” Li Shimin gave a cold laugh. “And yet why did you incite Our three sons to slaughter one another?”

“Only to make one thing clear to you,” Wei Lingfu said in a grave and chilling voice. “There is retribution in this world of heaven and earth. You yourself are not upright — you killed your brother and imprisoned your father — and your sons will do the very same thing!”

“Who exactly is behind you, ordering you?” Li Shimin slowly raised his hand, and on all sides the creaking of bowstrings sounded as more than a thousand bows were slowly drawn taut.

“You still refuse to believe?” Wei Lingfu smiled slightly, and his body suddenly began to emit white smoke. The smoke, wisp by wisp, seemed to rise from within his body, and in the blink of an eye it had enveloped his entire form.

Everyone was immediately astonished, every scalp prickling. Li Shimin also watched in shock, and Wang Xuance’s heart was shaken to its core.

Three princes slain outside the gate — the Tang house sees its cycle of retribution. Wei Lingfu murmured the lines slowly. By now, smoke was rising from all seven of his orifices, even seeping out in thin threads from the pores of his skin — as if the entire person were dissolving into smoke.

“Quick!” Wang Xuance bellowed. “The fishing net!”

Li Shimin also came to his senses and commanded the guards to find a fishing net. The South Sea Pond was not far from here, and someone immediately came running over holding a fishing net — yet before it reached near Wei Lingfu, a gust of wind blew, and the smoke dispersed. In the midst of ten thousand surrounding troops, Wei Lingfu dissolved into smoke and vanished without trace.

Li Shimin’s face was ashen. He rushed over and searched carefully — not the slightest mark remained. He could not help feeling a wave of unease, and looked up at the white clouds above — as if Wei Lingfu had dissolved into white cloud and departed.

“What… exactly is happening?” Li Shimin murmured. “Is he truly an immortal, come to punish Us?”

Wang Xuance stepped forward and said quietly, “Your Majesty, there is someone who can resolve this matter.”

“Who?” Li Shimin asked.

“My master — Reverend Xuanzang,” Wang Xuance said. “That day in the Gandhara royal palace, Lianhua Ye also began emitting white smoke from all over her body and vanished from sight before everyone’s eyes. This very scene — identical in every detail!”